How to become a Radio Ham

Years ago, anyone interested in becoming a radio amateur was required to take complex tests involving electronics theory, radio construction and in most cases, learn Morse code.

Things have changed here in the UK, making it considerably easier for newcomers to get into the hobby. You can now get started with an entry-level Foundation Licence in a few weeks, or with an intensive weekend course. On this page, we explain more about getting on-air with a ham radio Foundation Licence:

The Foundation Licence?

The Foundation Licence is an introductory licence to encourage new amateur radio operators to get a taste of the hobby, and to get on-air. As a Foundation licence holder, you’ll have access at low power to a range of different frequencies, but you can gain more power and privileges as you progress to the Intermediate and Full licences.

Getting a Foundation Licence will allow you to transmit on the VHF / UHF and HF bands to a power of up to 10 watts, which with a modest aerial and radio will be enough to get you into much of Europe and beyond.

The Foundation Licence Now!book is an essential part of the UK Foundation Licence. It’s a 32-page A4 book that explains all of the basics, contains handy bits of information for the newbie amateur, and tells you what you need to know to pass the exam. At the time of writing, it’s under £5 at Amazon. (More: Amateur Radio Books)

The following video gives you an overview of what’s involved in getting your Foundation licence:

How to get started in amateur radio

Here is a video explaining a little more about the hobby, and how to get started by getting a Foundation licence:

Foundation: Practical

All Foundation licence holders are required to demonstrate that they can connect and use an amateur radio transmitter and antenna. The practical assessments have to be completed in front of a Registered Assessor – Normally, a local amateur radio club can help with practical sessions.

The tutors hand-hold you through the process and assess you as the course progresses. The practical part of the course helps you to understand what to do when you get your licence, and how to get on-air safely. Practicals include:

Foundation: Exam

After completing the practical part of the course, you’re required to sit a 26-question multiple choice exam. The questions are in the following categories:

Amateur Radio and Licence Rules – 6 questions

Technical Basics – 4 questions

Transmitters & Receivers – 3 questions

Feeders and Antennas – 3 questions

Signal Propagation – 2 questions

EMC (avoidance of interference) – 3 questions

Operating Practices – 3 questions

Safety – 2 questions

You have 55 minutes to answer the 26 questions, and if you’ve paid attention during the course, and studied the book, then the exam should present no problems at all. To pass, you’ll need to get 19 of the 26 questions correct. For more, see Getting Started: Foundation Exam.

Foundation Licence & Callsign

Your exam paper is normally marked as soon as the exam is finished, so you’ll get an idea of whether you’ve passed “while you wait”. Assuming you pass, you’ll be sent a Pass certificate by post from the RSGB (Radio Society of Great Britain).

Your details will be passed on to the UK regulator, Ofcom, and you’ll be able to apply for your licence and callsign.

Your Foundation callsign will begin with “M7” followed by three letters, and you can pick those three letters yourself (if the callsign you’re after hasn’t been taken)

Once you have your callsign and your licence, you’re able to start transmitting on HF (long distance) and VHF/UHF (shorter distances), and you can start to see where the hobby takes you.

Next Steps?

Hopefully, this page has given you a feel for the process and how to get started. If you are keen to get on and get your licence, it’s a case of studying for the exam. You can learn from reading the book or taking online courses, but many prefer to learn with a local amateur radio club. A good number of amateur radio clubs offer training courses, which include the practical sessions.

If you’re in Essex, see our “Training in Essex” page for details of local training courses, otherwise, put your address into the RSGB Club Finder to find your nearest club.

3 Comments

Can you clear up something for me regarding the practicals for the Foundation? Would it be possible to take all of the practicals at the same time, or is that simply not logistically possible due to time constraints. I live an hour’s drive from the neares exam centre and I don’t fancy taking four separate trips to get the practicals out of the way before I’m allowed to take the technical exam.

All clubs operate differently, but there are some clubs that allow you to complete all of the practicals in one session. For example, in Essex, the Colchester club runs a one-day “fast track” course that includes all practicals, plus the exam, in a single day.

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